BR TO OTTOLINE MORRELL, [6 OCT. 1911]
BRACERS 17293. ALS. Morrell papers #211, Texas
Proofread by K. Blackwell et al.

<letterhead>
Trinity College,
Cambridge.1^, 2
Friday aftn.

My Darling Love

I got 2 letters today, one forwarded from Cambridge, and one Wednesday’s written at Innsbruck. I am relieved to think you are gone from Vienna, I felt how the place depressed you. You will probably find several letters waiting at Meran. Do try to get rested — if your holiday is tiring, when are you to get better?

I have been looking at flats, and have seen two, of which either would do: Laurence Street, running back from the river, next to Cheyne Row. Very secluded, but there would be other people on the staircase and therefore it would not be certain you were coming to see me — 2 bedrooms, 1 sitting room, kitchen. One flat has the rooms larger, but kitchen between sitting room and bedrooms. I don’t know that that matters much as I shall only have a charwoman in the morning. I got a great deal of pleasure out of it, as it made it seem possible that some day we shall meet again — by this time, it needs something to make one feel that. Mrs W. had not had time to look at anything yet, and is busy with a visitor now. We had a pleasant talk this morning, and dismissed last night’s complications. Whitehead is frightfully busy and I don’t see as much of him as I should like. We talked about 2 hours yesterday, but only about space and time, not about the things in them. We go back to Cambridge together tomorrow. His mind seems to me more vigorous than ever. I believe he will do good work at 80, when I shall be in my dotage.

I am glad you liked Hilda Lessways. I agree with all you say, but I did find afterwards there was not much impression left.

I have to be in London the last Sat., Sunday and Monday in October; Sat. night and Monday night I am engaged, the first to dine to meet Bergson, the second for the Aristn. The rest of the time I am free. If you can manage any time then, do, as I shall be in London anyhow. I am telling you now in case you could avoid a week-end in the country. I feel we must seize any moment during term that we possibly can get.

I am writing this at Moore’s Garden,a where I am staying. The river from here is wonderfully beautiful. I love the river at Chelsea as much as any place almost. But it is associated almost only with unhappiness. Even lately, the times when I have been here have been mainly times of worry. But now I find even things that might be worrying don’t really get any hold on me. That is since our long time together.

I think Lytton probably is really delicate, but no doubt it is largely nerves. — Yes, the underground commentary is very queer. It is very dangerous to go against it, tho’ I think sometimes it is not real wisdom, but conventions learnt in youth — not with you, but with some people.

Goodbye Darling. My love for you keeps on growing even in absence — I find everything is referred to you in my thoughts. The contemplation of you satisfies me in the most extraordinary way — I keep thinking this and this and this, that I have doubted the possibility of, are possible because you have them. You illumine the world for me and give me faith and hope. This is not from idealizing — it is from knowing what you live by in the depths. Goodbye my Darling Love.

Your
B.

• 1

  [document] Document 000211. Proofread against a colour scan of the original.

• 2

  [envelope] A circled “211”. The Lady Ottoline Morrell | Hotel Bristol | Meran | Tyrol | Austria. Pmk: CHELSEA.S.W. | 5.15 | PM | 6 | OCT | 1911

Textual Notes

• a

  Moore’s Garden More’s Garden (named after Sir Thomas More). BR spelt the name correctly hitherto.